Surfer dudes, bird nerds, hiking fiends, mountain trekkers, back-to-the-land nature fanatics, beach bums and party animals all seem to have found something in common in Costa Rica. The waves are prime, the natural beauty is staggering, the pace of life slow, the beer plentiful and the locals friendly. A stronghold of peace in a region torn by strife, this tiny nation attracts a stream of more than a million eager visitors every year. The country stands apart from its Central American neighbors on various points. The first is that it has no army. Armed forces were abolished after the 1948 civil war, and Costa Rica has avoided to despotic, dictatorships, frequent military coups, ism and internal turmoil that have plagued other countries in the region. Costa Rica is unique globally for its enlightened approach to conservation. More than 27%!o(MISSING)f the country is protected in one form or another, and more than 14%!i(MISSING)s within the national park system. Lush jungles are home to playful monkeys, languid sloths, crocodiles and caimans, countless lizards, colorful poison dart frogs and a mind boggling assortment of exotic birds, insects and butterflies. Endangered sea turtles lay their eggs on both coasts and cloud forests protect elusive birds and jungle cats. Thrill seekers fly through the forests on zip lines, peer into active volcanoes, surf over-sized waves, scuba with sharks, dolphins and whales and come face-to-face with poisonous snakes - all in the course of a normal day. Besides, if you have some serious chilling to do, you can always sit on the beach or a mountaintop and just enjoy the pure life, or pura vida - a local expression that sums up the desire to live the best existence.
Liberia, the provincial capital of Costa Rica's most important northerly town is a ranching center and transportation hub. It's also a good base for visiting Rincon de la Vieja and Santa Rosa national parks. While Liberia itself isn't dense with tourist attractions, it is an exceedingly likable town. Lunch hour is still sacred, and you can expect most businesses to close. The Calle Real, south of the parque central, has a row of surviving colonial structures (now landmarks), that is fast turning into a backpacker alley.
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